Wilderswil - Breitlauenen

This hike starts at Wilderswil railway station and leads up to the Schynige Platte intermediate station. From Wilderswil the trail takes you at a steep incline through mainly shady mountain forest to Breitlauenen. What make this ascent particularly appealing are the views that encompass the deciduous woodlands of the valley floor and the colourful alpine flora and fauna at a variety of altitudes. View of a painting: The hike to Breitlauenen is rewarded with panoramic views at the destination. Breitlauenen intermediate station is situated on the northern slope of the long Faulhorn chain. It perches, terrace-like, high above the valley floor and Interlaken. To the left and right, the fjord-like arms of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun stretch out, behind them the pre-Alp peaks of the Brienzer Rothorn, Augstmatthorn and Niederhorn stretch up into the sky. This is where the painter Ferdinand Hodler created some of his most famous works, such as "Der Brienzersee von Breitlauenen aus" (A View of Lake Brienz from Breitlauenen).